MLIVE.COM (MICHIGAN): 4 CONCEPTS FOR A DOWNTOWN PARKING GARAGE AT THE GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY

A compilation of four design concepts for the surface parking lot at 111 Library St. prepared by Carl Walker Parking Consultants and Fishbeck Thompson Carr & Huber for the city of Grand Rapids. (Courtesy | City of Grand Rapids)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A city-owned parking lot next to the Grand Rapids Public Library’s downtown main branch at 111 Library St. NE could soon be redeveloped into a set of mixed-use buildings and a city-owned parking garage.

The city commission recently gave the project a green light to move forward into the more detailed planning phase.

The city is planning on paying for the parking garage portion of the project, and will seek out a private developer to bring the rest of the vision to light.

Here are four concepts the city has developed so far for the site:

This rendering from Carl Walker Parking Consultants and Fishbeck Thompson Carr & Huber shows a proposed parking ramp and surrounding development next to the downtown Grand Rapids Public Library. (Courtesy | City of Grand Rapids)

Concept 1: $43.5 million

This first concept seeks to create a campus feel for the library site, with a 132-foot by 90-foot park along Library Street.

This concept would cost $43.45 million overall: $12.25 million for the parking structure, $2.7 million for the green roof on the parking garage and $28.5 million in buildings.

This rendering from Carl Walker Parking Consultants and Fishbeck Thompson Carr & Huber shows a proposed parking ramp and surrounding development next to the downtown Grand Rapids Public Library. (Courtesy | City of Grand Rapids)

Three structures are proposed in the first concept that would be built in a tiered approach to show off the library’s architecture.

The smallest building (shown in blue) would be four stories tall, with the first level offering retail space and 19,000 square feet of office space in the upper three floors.

The parking structure (shown in orange) would be sandwiched in between the office building and a seven-story mixed-use residential and commercial building (shown in pink).

In this concept, the parking deck would have 323 spaces across seven levels, as well as a green roof.

The seven-story mixed-use building would have first-floor retail space, as well as 36,400 square feet of residential space in the upper six floors.

This rendering from Carl Walker Parking Consultants and Fishbeck Thompson Carr & Huber shows a proposed parking ramp and surrounding development next to the downtown Grand Rapids Public Library. (Courtesy | City of Grand Rapids)

Concept 2: $48.3 million

This second concept attempts to merge the proposed park space off of library street with the facade of the building itself. Plantings would be installed on the side of the building.

This concept would cost $48.269 million overall: $15 million for the parking structure, $2.969 million for the green roof on the parking garage and $30.3 million in buildings.

This rendering from Carl Walker Parking Consultants and Fishbeck Thompson Carr & Huber shows a proposed parking ramp and surrounding development next to the downtown Grand Rapids Public Library. (Courtesy | City of Grand Rapids)

However, the second concept offers no residential space.

The parking structure would include two basement levels and five levels above ground, with a total of 364 spaces.

The parking garage would be surrounded by a five-story building that would border Ransom Avenue and Fountain Street. The first level would have 11,700 square feet of retail space, with 46,800 square feet of office space in the upper four levels.

This rendering from Carl Walker Parking Consultants and Fishbeck Thompson Carr & Huber shows a proposed parking ramp and surrounding development next to the downtown Grand Rapids Public Library. (Courtesy | City of Grand Rapids)

Concept 3: $40.6 million

The third concept would create a raised terrace and sloped, grassy amphitheater along Library Street. Designers envision the amphitheater slope could be used year-round, transitioning from a grassy reading spot in the summer to an urban sledding space in the winter.

The ground level space underneath the amphitheater at the corner of Library and Ransom could also be open to a tenant.

This concept would cost $40.613 million overall: $12.375 million for the parking structure, $2.438 million for the green roof on the parking garage and $25.8 million in buildings.

This rendering from Carl Walker Parking Consultants and Fishbeck Thompson Carr & Huber shows a proposed parking ramp and surrounding development next to the downtown Grand Rapids Public Library. (Courtesy | City of Grand Rapids)

The third concept would also sandwich the parking garage in between two mixed-use buildings.

The parking garage would have two underground levels and five above ground, with a total of 258 parking spaces.

The first building would have five stories, with retail on the first floor, office space on the second floor and three floors of residential space above.

The bigger mixed-use building along Fountain Street would have first-floor retail, four levels of office space and two levels of residential space.

This rendering from Carl Walker Parking Consultants and Fishbeck Thompson Carr & Huber shows a proposed parking ramp and surrounding development next to the downtown Grand Rapids Public Library. (Courtesy | City of Grand Rapids)

Concept 4: $54.8 million

The fourth concept is the most expensive.

It incorporates modular housing units with urban farm space in residents’ terraces and on the green roof of the parking garage. Designers propose space off of Library Street for a farmers market, where residents could sell the produce they grow.

This concept would cost $54.813 million overall: $13.875 million for the parking structure, $2.438 million for the green roof on the parking garage and $38.5 million in buildings.

This rendering from Carl Walker Parking Consultants and Fishbeck Thompson Carr & Huber shows a proposed parking ramp and surrounding development next to the downtown Grand Rapids Public Library. (Courtesy | City of Grand Rapids)

The fourth concept is the most housing-centric of all four options. The parking garage (shown in orange) is surrounded on three sides by the building, most of which is modular residential units (shown in pink).

The parking garage would have two underground levels and five levels above ground, with a total of 258 spaces.

Total space for residential living is 31,000 square feet. The first floor of the residential building would have 10,700 square feet available for retail space.

What’s next

City staff will now prepare the site for redevelopment and refine the concepts, as well as developing a “criteria, process and method” for the project.

The Mobile GR Commission – formerly known as the parking commission – would review the proposals first before the city commission gives its final stamp of approval.

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